ROUTE 5

A wander down the hill

This walk is best done on Saturdays when the Old Church at Chingford and the cemetery is open. It’s also worth checking out whether a market is planned in either Chingford or Highams Park and what is on at nearby Epping Forest.

Walking Cycling Distance 4.5 miles Travel time 1 hour 30 30 minutes minutes Conditions Mostly on Mostly on quiet footways on roads with short quiet roads. sections on main roads with cycle lanes. Public The walk starts at Chingford Station transport which can be reached by London Overground from London Liverpool Street (via St James Street), Walthamstow Central and Highams Park Station. ROUTE 5

Station Road, Chingford

1) Head out of the station car park and turn to your left. Make your way along Station Road up the hill. Station Road Station Road has shops and cafes to visit to prepare your for your journey down the hill into Highams Park. There is also a farmers market and a vintage market on Saturdays throughout the year. 2) Once you have passed Barclays Bank you will see Chingford Green and Chingford Library on your right. 3) Turn right into the access road in front of the Library then veer left to take the path in front of the library where you join the Green Walk. (Please note cycling isn’t allowed along the walk at time of writing). ROUTE 5

St Peter and St Pauls Church On your left is St Peter and St Pauls Church, built in the 1840s to replace All Saints Church which had fallen into a state of disrepair. St Peter and St Pauls was extended in the 1870s in response to the rapidly growing population of Chingford encouraged by the extension of the railway. 4) Travel along the Green Walk and turn left into Parkhill Road. 5) Go straight over the junction with Kings Head Hill. If you’re waiting at the lights look to your right and you get an impressive view over the reservoirs towards Enfield. 6) Once in The Ridgeway take your second left onto St Egberts Way which turns into a path. Follow the path all the way to the end. 7) At the end of the path turn right onto Endlebury Road then left into Heathcote Grove. Go all the way to the end of Heathcote Grove and into Chingford Mount Cemetery. Chingford Mount Cemetery Chingford Mount Cemetery was opened in May 1884, on the site of the house and grounds of wealthy local Caroline Mount and covers an area of about 41.5 acres. It was opened as a sister-site to Abney Park Cemetery, which had opened in 1840 as part of the Magnificent Seven Cemeteries which circled London. It was opened to provide better burial sites for people from the City of London. Following the collapse of the managing company in the 1970s and plans to build houses on the site, the London Borough of Waltham Forest took over management of the site. ROUTE 5

Chingford Mount Cemetery

The notorious Kray twins and family and Benjamin Pollock, founder of Pollock’s Toy Museum are among those buried in the cemetery. There are also war graves of 137 Commonwealth service personnel of World War I and 182 of World War II. 8) Wander through the cemetery making your way to the main entrance located in the south (down the hill). Once out of the cemetery you will find yourself on Chingford Mount Road/ Old Church Road. 9) To the right of the entrance use the zebra crossing to cross the road. Walk up the hill, crossing the first side road and on your left you will see All Saints Church. All Saints All Saints was the parish church until 1844. The chuch has Norman origins, although the present building dates from the late 13th century. The tower and proch were added in the 14th century and 16th centuries. The Church became known as the Green Church in the 19th century due to the amount of ivy growing over it. Later it fell into such a state of disrepair it was abandoned. It was then restored in the 1930s. ROUTE 5

The church has been recently restored again and is a great reminder of Chingford’s past and the local importance of Chingford Mount. 10) Go back the way you came through the cemetery but when you get out the other side take a sharp right down the path. 11) Go all the way down the path and into Grove Road. Cross over New Road and follow the path into Larkswood Playing Fields. 12) Once in the playing fields take the path to the left through the wood. Larkswood Larkswood is a classic ancient woodland with oak and hornbeam trees. There’s also an impressive carpet of bluebells in springtime. It’s great to have a good explore as you walk or cycle under the thick tree canopy. Once you’ve navigated through the wood you will find yourself in either Inks Green or Larkshall Road.

13) If you’re in Inks Green turn left and walk along the road until you get to Ropers Avenue. Turn left into Ropers Avenue then right into Larkshall Road. 14) Turn right into Larkshall Road and follow the road down the hill into Highams Park. Once you’re in Highams Park you’ll find yourself crossing the railway tracks with the Higham Park Signal box on your right. ROUTE 5

Higham Park Signal Box Highams Park Signal Box is a Locally Listed building, erected in 1925 by the London and North Eastern Railway Company and one of the few that survive on the Chingford line today. It was saved from demolition in 2002 it is now leased to the Highams Park Signal Box Association. 15) Go over the railway line and Larkshall Road turns into Hale End Road. You will see a row of shops on the right. The last shop on the corner (no. 499) was the home of Sir George Edwards. Sir George Edwards 1908 – 2003 The internationally famous aircraft designer, who was responsible for both the Concorde and the Vicker’s Viscount, was born here, above his fathers toyshop. As a boy he attended the nearby Selwyn Avenue School. What to do afterwards? Once you’ve had a look at where Sir George was born you can have a look around the shops and places to eat on Hale End Road or head to Highams Park station via the Avenue for services to Liverpool Street, Walthamstow and Chingford. Higham Park Signal Box

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